Horsham

Horsham's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age and housing tenure.

The population passed 130,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Horsham increased by 7.6%, from just over 122,000 to 131,000.

The addition of about 9,200 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Horsham was home to, on average, 1.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Horsham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Horsham increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This growing rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 12% of people in Horsham are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Horsham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Horsham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Horsham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Horsham decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Horsham, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Horsham, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Horsham, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.6% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Horsham increased from 11% to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 79% to 75%.

Private renting in Horsham increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Horsham, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Horsham working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Horsham decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Horsham, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Horsham

The number of people in Horsham from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 120,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Horsham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 950 in 2001 to just under 2,600 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 2.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 910 to just under 1,800 (from 0.7% to 1.4%).

Just over 650 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 340 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Horsham decreased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Horsham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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